Sponsoring my Korean wife for permanent residency

[Korea2Canada]

I picked up some numbered stickers and labels today from office depot to put on the back of my photos. Going to type captions and stick it on the back of the photos. This is what I have so far:

1) Hand writtten draft 1 of IMMI forms.
2) Started working on (typing in a msword doc) the IMMI form sections that do not have enough space - seperate sheets of paper. I put the following as headings in this doc: Form Number, Section Number, and the Title of the Section. I have one flowing document with matching headings and section numbers. My wife did same for her part as well.
3) Photocopies - made copies today of all required documents that are in English (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate), etc.
4) Photos - doing this weekend
5) Korean Documents - going to Seoul in 2-3 weeks to get all those translated and notarized.
6) I expect to be doing a final draft of the forms in 3-4 weeks.

 

[bartjones]

Yeah, that form is one of the required forms. I also read somewhere about someone who didn't submit the old deleted korean documents and had their application delayed. I guess we will find out when we go to get the documents printed off...if it exists or not. We will ask for it and see what they say.

It definitely exists and you definitely want to include it. As I said back on page 1, if the clerk doesn't know what you're talking about, the Korean translation is 제적등본.

 

[Korea2Canada]

Marriage Certificate: We have a marriage certificate signed/stamped issued from the Canada Embassy in Seoul. It's all in English. Is this the one to use (i'm guessing it is) or is there a Korean one as well? Would we need to submit the Canada Embassy Cert. & Korean Cert.?

Thanks guys - have a good weekend! I'll be back on Monday with more questions for sure ;D

 

[bartjones]

Marriage Certificate: We have a marriage certificate signed/stamped issued from the Canada Embassy in Seoul. It's all in English. Is this the one to use (i'm guessing it is) or is there a Korean one as well? Would we need to submit the Canada Embassy Cert. & Korean Cert.?

I have that one too and threw a copy of it in with my application, but as i said earlier I don't think that's an actual marriage certificate for Korean purposes. My wife tells me the Korean marriage certificate is the "Marriage Relation Certificate" you'll be getting from the gu office.

5) Korean Documents - going to Seoul in 2-3 weeks to get all those translated and notarized.

If you don't mind me asking, what city are you living in? If it's anyplace other than a hole in the wall out in the boonies somewhere, you could probably have it done in your town and save yourself the trip to Seoul.

 

[Rob_TO]

I guess the common-law applications are different but if you're legally married my view of the whole PR process was this. My wife and I have been married 8 years. It's a legit marriage. I included a bunch of our wedding pictures and pics of us together on trips all over the world. If we were trying to scam a PR visa out of CIC we sure spent a lot of time and money doing so. So I submitted the docs and information CIC required and ( other than the marriage certificate I wasn't sure about) I gave them nothing more. I figure that makes the VO's job a lot easier and makes our application a simple one to process.

I know others took a different view, wrote long covering letters, sent all kinds of extra info and went to great lengths to explain how they met, developed their relationship, etc. but I just can't see a busy VO taking much time to look through all of that. Those guys in Manila must be swamped, so I took the minimalist approach. Hopefully it works.

IMO, you are exactly right. 8 years is a long time and your application should be a no-brainer approval just based on that. For people in a new marriage of around a year or less, they should treat the application differently and include more. Just being married is no guarantee it's a real relationship as many marriages-of-convenience happen this way.

The main thing you will need to show, is that if you're applying while living in Korea that you really intend to return to Canada to live after PR is approved. For this it's a good idea to write a letter explaining your plans here.

I think CIC in general should have a "fast track" PR application process for people who have been married over a certain time (say 5 years), or who are married and have children together. There is practically zero chance of fraud in these cases so the processing in theory should be much simpler and quicker with just the medical and other basic checks being done.

 

[Rob_TO]

Oh and if it helps anyone, here is a List of Attachments we included in our common-law app through the former-Seoul office last year. At the time of application we were both living in Canada.

We got 16 post-it notes, numbered them 1-16, and stuck them to the corresponding documents outlined in this list.

All photocopies done were just regular photocopies, as for all Korean docs the originals were sent. Nothing was a "certified true copy"

For a married spouse application, you also need to include "Marriage Relation Certificate", and if this is an important document you should include this as a "certified true" copy along with translation.

Oh and the only document the Seoul office requested during processing, was "Korean exit / entry certificate since age 18". Even though it's not actually a required doc in the guide. They sent the request by email, we arranged to get them this doc within a few days, and there was no real delay caused so it was no problem.



List of Attachments
Please find the following attachments that accompany this PR application, numbered and referenced to this list:

Attachments for XXXX (Sponsor)
1. Photocopy of Canadian Passport and Canadian Birth Certificate (1 page)
2. “Option C Printout” for XXXX's 2011 tax year income information (2 pages)
3. Letter from employer showing proof of job, income and time at company (1 page)
Attachments for YYYY (Applicant)
4. Photocopy of Passport, current Canadian Student entry Visa (expires Jan 31, 2013), and Korean National ID card (3 pages)
5. Original Certificate of Family Relations plus certified translation to English (3 pages)
6. Original Certificate of Individual Identification plus certified translation to English (3 pages)
7. Original Police Criminal and Investigation Record plus certified translation to English (3 pages)
8. Original Household Register (already presented in English) (1 page)
9. Form 1017 – Medical Report plus proof of full medical exams (3 pages)
Attachments for Proof of Common-Law relationship
10. Copy of Benefits plan from XXXX's employer, showing YYYY as common-law spouse, dependant for health benefits, and 100% primary beneficiary for life insurance (7 pages)
11. Copy of Joint Credit Card account shared by XXXX and YYYY (1 page)
12. Copy of mail from Revenue Canada and Mobile Phone company, showing YYYY shares same address with XXXX (2 pages)
13. Copy of upcoming airplane tickets for XXXX and YYYY visiting South Korea for 3 weeks (2 pages)
14. Letter from ZZZZ (XXXX's mother) as character witness to our common-law relationship (1 page)
15. Photographs documenting events, meeting friends/family and travel during XXXX and YYYY's relationship (11 pages)
Also:
16. 9 x PR photographs of YYYY

 

[scos]

Hey guys, be sure to add yourselves to the Manila VO spreadsheet (link is in my signature line). Or post your timelines and I will add you.

Thanks

 

[costaudjoe]

Hey guys, be sure to add yourselves to the Manila VO spreadsheet (link is in my signature line). Or post your timelines and I will add you.

Thanks

I filled it out. However, I had to wait an additional month for the CSQ from Quebec. Not sure if you want to add that column to your spreadsheet (I didn't see too many people from Quebec filling it out).

Thanks!

PS You may want to add a column for those of us transferring over from Seoul...

 

[Korea2Canada]

Hey guys, be sure to add yourselves to the Manila VO spreadsheet (link is in my signature line). Or post your timelines and I will add you.

Thanks

What is the purpose of that spreadsheet?

 

[bartjones]

What is the purpose of that spreadsheet?

By listing your dates and info from your own application experience (when you applied, how long it took to get sponsor approval, when your file was transferred to Manila, etc.) it helps other people to get a better idea how long different parts of the PR process are taking.

 

[bartjones]

IMO, you are exactly right. 8 years is a long time and your application should be a no-brainer approval just based on that. For people in a new marriage of around a year or less, they should treat the application differently and include more. Just being married is no guarantee it's a real relationship as many marriages-of-convenience happen this way.

The main thing you will need to show, is that if you're applying while living in Korea that you really intend to return to Canada to live after PR is approved. For this it's a good idea to write a letter explaining your plans here.

I agree, and this was the only area of the application where I went into any extra detail or added any additional documents.

BTW thanks for the document list as well as all your other advice.

 

[scos]

By listing your dates and info from your own application experience (when you applied, how long it took to get sponsor approval, when your file was transferred to Manila, etc.) it helps other people to get a better idea how long different parts of the PR process are taking.

Exactly. Like based on the data it looks like they are currently processing apps whose sponsor approval dates are around mid-September last year. It is helpful but you don't need to use it if you don't want to.

 

[earthbound14]

A few questions:

1 - Does anyone know of other options in Korea for translating and notarizing documents?
My wife and I translated documents for our son's citizenship papers and had a professor at my school sign them. I'd like to do the same thing again, but if anyone has had problems doing this we won't.

2 - How much does it cost to have documents translated and notarized at the Gu office?

3 - Our son is Canadian, so I should not need to fill out any forms for additional dependents, right? I'm assuming this also should not require that I demonstrate that I have the funds to support him as he is perfectly within is 2 year old rights to be supported by the state.

4 - What's the deal with working while waiting. I read that if we apply from out of the country, my wife won't be able to work but if we apply withing the country she can...seems idiotic to me.

5 - Can we transfer our application to Canada once it has been started? We are going to be landing in Canada before the process is finished.

6 - Will my wife be able to get health care in Canada prior to the visa being fully processed? We might be expecting a little one before the visa has arrived and it seems rather silly to be paying hospital bills when she is my wife and the child will be Canadian.

7 - Does my wife still need to show she has round trip tickets to enter the country? I've read that we can show we have the funds to buy one, and I'm assuming that since we are married, have a child and all the documents to support it (including a PR visa in the works) that no immigration official would turn her back at the airport... But of course, once you land you are a the mercy of who ever you happen to be dealing with and we are not at all willing to risk it. I'd love it if there were some way to get a form from the government saying that we were to be let in regardless of a round trip ticket, I have no interest in wasting money on a pointless ticket.

8 - The forms ask for evidence of a job, a mortgage or school acceptance. Unfortunately we are submitting our forms without a job in Canada and prior to putting money on a house. Has anyone else had problems doing this?

 

[bartjones]

A few questions:

1 - Does anyone know of other options in Korea for translating and notarizing documents?
My wife and I translated documents for our son's citizenship papers and had a professor at my school sign them. I'd like to do the same thing again, but if anyone has had problems doing this we won't.

2 - How much does it cost to have documents translated and notarized at the Gu office?

You need an arms length translator (non-family member/friend) who is willing to swear an affidavit under oath that their translations are accurate and a lawyer/notary to prepare and commission the affidavit. The translator must sign the affidavit in the presence of the lawyer/notary

I'm not aware of any other methods for doing the translations/notarization and I will be very surprised if that service is available at a local gu office. That would require that the gu office have in it's employ, a competent Kor/Eng. translator and a lawyer or notary who can prepare and commission an affidavit for the translator to sign attesting to the accuracy of the translations. All that offered as a public service at a local gu office? Probably not.

I had it done at a law office and it cost 300,000 won. I agree its expensive but that, or something very much like that, is what CIC requires and you can rest assured, knowing they will be accepted.

Alternatively, you can always try doing them on the cheap some other way, cross your fingers that CIC accepts them and get on the plane to Canada. If CIC rejects your translations and sends them back to you at your new residence in Canada, you'll then have to have them translated and notarized again by a Canadian Kor/Eng. translator and a Canadian notary/lawyer. I can guarantee you that that will cost you a lot more than 300,000 won and probably delay your application by months, but it's your choice.

6 - Will my wife be able to get health care in Canada prior to the visa being fully processed? We might be expecting a little one before the visa has arrived and it seems rather silly to be paying hospital bills when she is my wife and the child will be Canadian.

Depends on the province you're going to. I'm going to Ontario and the eligibility rules are explained for that province here;

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/ohip_eligibility.aspx

You will probably get a much better and quicker answer to this question if you post in the "Health" forum here.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/health-b40.0/

7 - Does my wife still need to show she has round trip tickets to enter the country? I've read that we can show we have the funds to buy one, and I'm assuming that since we are married, have a child and all the documents to support it (including a PR visa in the works) that no immigration official would turn her back at the airport... But of course, once you land you are a the mercy of who ever you happen to be dealing with and we are not at all willing to risk it. I'd love it if there were some way to get a form from the government saying that we were to be let in regardless of a round trip ticket, I have no interest in wasting money on a pointless ticket.

You can roll the dice and hope they let you on the plane at Incheon without one and that you get through Canadian immigration when you arrive. As others have said, the smarter play is to buy a refundable return ticket.

8 - The forms ask for evidence of a job, a mortgage or school acceptance. Unfortunately we are submitting our forms without a job in Canada and prior to putting money on a house. Has anyone else had problems doing this?

If you don't have these (I didn't) you need to explain what your plans are for reestablishing yourself in Canada.

Sorry, I don't know about Questions 3, 4 and 5 but I'm sure there is someone else here who does.

 

[costaudjoe]

When we got our documents translated we took them to a place just north of city hall. There was this street with 5-6 places in a row. It was around $250-$300. The translations weren't stellar but they were comprehensible.

What do you mean when you say your son is Canadian? Was he born in Canada? Or by virtue of being your son he is Canadian?

Also, I am no expert but I can tell you the choice to go inland or outland is not an easy one and should not be taken lightly. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Basically, applying outland is the fast-tracked process taking less than a year for you to be approved as a sponsor and your wife for PR. Although there is a HUGE question mark on that now given that we have all been shifted over to Manila. Also applying outland gives you the opportunity to appeal should your application be refused. The downside is your wife can only visit as a tourist (or on other visas) which explains why she cannot work. It's not idiotic she simply doesn't have the status to work in Canada (remember you are supposed to be living out of Canada while applying).

Applying inland means you are not fast-tracked and can expect to be in limbo the whole time. Your wife can get a temporary work visa which can take a while to get. The process does not allow for appeals so if your application is refused your wife will have to leave Canada. And apparently leaving Canada during that time is risky as she may not be allowed to re-enter Canada, in which case the whole process starts over again.

Also if you apply outland and you decide to come to come to Canada, your wife could be called for an interview then she would have to return.

My advice to you is to weigh your options and choose the best one for you and lock into it. Even if you can switch from one to the other, you can surely expect lengthy delays and you put yourself at the mercy of the system.